Thanks for this discussion. I understand how you’re reading verse 4 and just want to affirm Scripture teaches the completeness and eternalness of what Jesus accomplished for us. Believers have real abiding assurance of our salvation in this life and the next. That’s why the chorus states, “I will forever sing his praise because I owe him everything.”

But you’re right about the word “plea.” I was applying my definition to what I was saying in my comment. “My only plea in eternity will be that Jesus died for me.” It’s hard to take it that way in the actual hymn. I stand corrected. There will be no doubts and no questions in heaven. Most likely the hymn writer who penned the original words was simply trying to say in poetic form how our confidence to stand before the judgment seat of God will be completely based on the fact that Jesus died for me.

A final word about editing comments. I often correct comments for what I think are typographical errors. I mention that in the About Page of this blog. I didn’t realize that “saved” was what you intended. Sorry about that. I changed it back to your original. As for editing out other portions, I often edit out longer sections of comments that I don’t think add to the discussion. In this case, I didn’t think the point was whether or not the elect can have eternal assurance, but what the song says.

Thanks again for drawing our attention to the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice for our eternal redemption.

One day I’ll look upon Your face
And this will be my plea (claim, explanation, defense)
“Saved me by Your almighty grace
For Jesus died for me”

Incomprehensible.

When I showed the song to my wife and after reading it a couple of times, she said that the way verse 4 reads; “One day I’ll look upon Your face And this will be my plea “Save me by Your almighty grace For Jesus died for me”” that it sounds like there is no real abiding assurance of salvation for the believer in this life.

Thanks all you folks, keep on keeping on.

love

Douglas

I see part of the problem. The word “plea” can be understood two ways. The first is “appeal, entreaty, petition.” The second is “claim, explanation, defense.” I understand “plea” here in the second sense. The only explanation in eternity I’ll have for being in heaven is the fact that Jesus died for me.

Thanks for this conversation. Very helpful.

This post might help.

Sounds like, though, the problem is more than just switching the order of the meeting. People have to want to come to meet God, be with his people, and have their hearts transformed by the Gospel and God’s Word. I’d talk to your pastor and strategize together what you can do to build people’s faith for the meeting.

How do you (general “you” as well as “you” personally) get people to love worshiping God? I am trying at my church, and I realize that only God can work in a person’s heart, but he has called me to bring people to him as well. However, people arrive late, start packing their stuff to leave during the last song, etc… We have tried switching things around in terms of order, etc… We use the worship time as not just a song time, but have times to pray, interact with the music, etc… However, I feel like I’ve got at least 3 songs a week or so that end up being “throw-away” songs. It sucks, but I’m kinda not sure what to do at this point. Any thoughts would be really appreciated. Any links or ideas to help me teach or help our people to love God enough to WANT to worship him corporately. Man. Long comment.

See you at the conference,
~Ryan Stockton

Thanks for stopping by. I understand the last verse to say that when I see the face of God before the judgment seat my only plea will be that Jesus died for me, not that I gave money to the church, or that I read my Bible, or that I helped the poor, or that I was a good husband. In view of the rest of the song, especially the chorus, I think that’s the only interpretation that makes sense. It’s a restatement of verse 1, only with the last day in view. My only plea in eternity, the only reason that I get to spend endless ages in God’s presence, is that Jesus died for me.

BTW, great quote from Pascal.